Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a much-anticipated return to Leeds, performing at Leeds Playhouse for the very first time.

This landmark double bill features Ingoma (2019), the choreographic debut of former Company dancer, Mthuthuzeli November. Inspired by the 1946 South African miners’ strike — a precursor to the anti-apartheid movement — Ingoma captures the suffering and resilience of Black miners and their communities, bringing rarely told stories to the ballet stage. The work won both the 2020 Olivier Award and the Black British Theatre Award for Best Dance Production, and now makes its long-awaited Leeds premiere. 

Alongside it comes a joyful new commission from Alvin Ailey royalty Hope Boykin, a two-time Bessie Award winner, making her UK choreographic debut. Boykin, who says “I make work and create environments from personal and lived experiences,” creates a celebratory piece especially for Ballet Black’s 25th year — a vibrant tribute to the company’s journey and a bold look towards its future. 

Audiences can expect Ballet Black’s signature blend of powerful storytelling, striking choreography and rich global influences, in a programme that honours the past while celebrating the future. For 25 years, Ballet Black has transformed the landscape of British ballet — creating vital opportunities for dancers and artists of Black and Asian descent, while building a repertoire that resonates with audiences around the world.